Previewing the VolunteersDepending on your allegiance, you either love or hate flamboyant Vol Coach Bruce Pearl.

But on one topic, there's unanimous agreement: Pearl has brought a success and excitement around Tennessee basketball unseen in Knoxville since the days of legendary Coach Ray Mears, who manned the sidelines for UT in the 60s and 70s.

Consider this: Not long ago, one could throw a hand grenade at entire section of Thompson-Boling Arena and not alarm a soul, save a few dust mites. Last year, the Vols averaged 19,661 fans per game-fourth in NCAA Division I.

And immediately after the season was over, UT begun construction on $35 million of privately-funded renovations to Thompson-Boling-strong support for a program whose fans were openly apathetic towards basketball just before Pearl's arrival.